F2P to VIP? Is It Impossible?

[Avaton]

A friend and I grabbed F2P accounts to check the game out and we really like it. I sent Turbine a ticket (per Victorie's post on the subject) to request a Key Code so I could add my DDO account to my Turbine account. I included the details of both accounts and explained that I needed my F2P account added to my Turbine account because I wanted to upgrade it to VIP. I got an email back with a Key Code and happily added it to my Turbine account and upgraded it to VIP. All good so far.

Now here is a question I can't seem to find the answer to:
How do I make this take effect? When I log into my account it is still F2P and doesn't show the VIP status at all even though I'm paying for it now. Anyone know how to get it to work?

[tihocan]

I'm not sure I understand this correctly, but is it possible that you somehow created two accounts, only one of them being upgraded to VIP? (and not the correct one)

[Avaton]

Only if the Turbine employee that read my ticket ignored most of it. However, I suspect you are correct... *facepalm*

What is the correct procedure for upgrading a F2P account to VIP? The "Submit a Ticket" route doesn't seem to really work...

[Avaton]

I figured out what happened. Apparently you can't add a F2P account to an existing account after you've already played on it. It just winds up being a seperate account. *sigh*

I'd just like to take a moment and thank the Turbine developer that made this upgrade process five thousand times more complicated and confusing than it should have been. Also I'd like to thank him/her for the days of wasted time spent leveling up a character with my friends on a F2P account only to find out I have to start all over. Do you think they are going to wait days for my low level butt to catch up again? Heck no... Good times!

Also, thanks Turbine for all the conflicting advice here on the forums. Really. I mean it. Great job! You tricked me out of an extra month's subscription by telling me I needed to submit a ticket to get a key for my existing account when you should have been telling me upgrade the F2P account. WOOHOO! Did you seriously think I just wanted a new blank account when I already had several days worth of time invested in an F2P character? How does that make any sense at all?!

To top it all off, if there is a way to transfer my F2P character to my brand new useless VIP account I can't for the life of me figure out how to do it! Oh man the day just gets better and better! Maybe a police officer will wave me into the path of a speeding truck later! That would really top things off right.

[Victorie]

As noted in this post, the forums are great for general information. However we can't provide specific account support via the forums.

I'm sorry you're experiencing such problems upgrading. If you would like to PM me your username and email I'll see what I can find out for you.

We aren't currently able to move characters between subscriptions. But there may be something else we can do to assist you.

[Avaton]

Thanks but if I can't transfer my F2P char to my VIP account then there's nothing to be done other than level my butt off to try to catch up to my buddies on my VIP account or play something else.

We need a guide that explains in detail how to take an existing DDO F2P account and attach it to an existing Turbine account (the one that has Asheron's Call and Lord of The Rings on it). When I created my DDO F2P account there was no way at all that I could see to do this which is why I wound up with two accounts. I couldn't enter my Turbine account information. It simply wouldn't let me. Believe me I tried. Repeatedly!

I've been a Turbine fan since the release of Asheron's Call 1 way back when. Awesome games! However, you guys seriously need to take a look at your account management system. I've had nothing but trouble with it ever since you took it over from Microsoft. Everything from vanishing subscriptions to locked out accounts (Asherons Call being locked out if you upgrade LoTRO with Mines of Moria) to now this bizzare multiple personality issue.

Please fix this. It really makes you look bad to new players when even a veteran of your services can't figure out how to use them...

Thanks and happy holidays!

[Victorie]

I do apologize for any confusion. Subscriptions and accounts can't be moved or merged at this time. Also, characters can't be moved between accounts or subscriptions.

In order to have a DDO subscription on a Turbine account, you would need to create the DDO subscription on that account. Since that can't be done via the website at this time, we do offer the email form to request a new key to add DDO to an existing subscription. This is a feature we have received requests for, just not one the system is currently set up to do. I will certainly pass along your feedback on these issues.

[Avaton]

That's fine and I appreciate the follow-up. I understand your point and that you guys don't see it as a big deal. It's like this; you already know how it works so it seems silly that someone like me could get it so wrong. Well... Think of it from the customer's point of view. Here was my experience for reference.

1. Buddy online told me he was thinking about DDO now that it's F2P. I told him I'd join him since it sounded like fun.

2. I followed the instructions for setting up a DDO account that you see when you click the download link on the DDO homepage.

3. I already have a Turbine account with AC and LoTRO on it so I tried to enter that information. Denied.

4. Confused, I tried again. Denied.

5. *IMPORTANT* I searched the page for any clue as to how to do it but found NOTHING! Here is where you guys need to look. A simple note on that page saying "To add a DDO account to your existing Turbine account please send us a ticket here *insert link to ticket thing requesting a new key here*. You may continue to create a new F2P account here but it will be seperate and not part of your existing Turbine account. If you upgrade to VIP in the future please do so ON THIS ACCOUNT and not on your main Turbine account."

6. I created the F2P account not understanding that there was no way I could merge it with my Turbine account (and at the time I admit I didn't really care since I was playing for free anyway).

7. Played for days with my friend and new friends I met online. Had a great time and leveled up.

8. Thought to myself, "This game is a lot of fun. I'm going to go VIP for the perks."

9. Attempted to do so. I requested a key by following your advice in another post about gaining VIP status on my existing Turbine account. Included in the ticket that I wanted my F2P account added to my existing Turbine account. I had no idea this was impossible.

10. Became rediculously confused and failed to upgrade the right account.

11. Now I'm stuck with a character on an F2P account that is useless to me and a blank VIP account with no characters at all.

I trust you guys can see how rediculously complicated this is. A simple note that I can't believe isn't already there on the F2P account creation page would have saved me all these headaches.

Thanks again for the follow-up. You guys really do rock but I get the impression that the account system team is made up of the CEO's relatives or something. Stuff like this wouldn't last five minutes where I work...

[Avaton]

Hi all and welcome back. The evil villan known as the Turbine Account System has struck yet again!

We go live now to our man Avaton on the scene.

*crackle* *buzz* "Yes. Reading you now... VIP points are not being awarded even days after upgrading an F2P account to VIP. My account was created and upgraded to VIP but it has now been 4 days and there are no VIP points in sight. On the account management page the subscription mind bogglingly shows as VIP and F2P/Trial at the same time. It seems the Turbine Account System knows no limits to it's cruelty. Back to you..."

Unbelievable... We here in the studio have no words to describe how we feel. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of those suffering at this hands of the Turbine Account System.

Now on to the weather...

[Victorie]

VIP points should now be granting properly after a successful payment (see this sticky for more info about how and when). If you didn't get your points, please contact the Account Management department. I'm sorry, but we can't assist with specific accounts issues via the forums.

Please note that subscriptions created with keys that are no longer being distributed (old trial keys, buddy keys from Stormreach boxes) may experience delays with the initial point grant. Many of these old keys provide a period of free play (7 to 10 days) prior to any subscription fees being charged. Since VIP points are granted after a successful subscription payment (see sticky linked above) any subscriptions created in this manner won't receive points automatically until after the time is up. However, the Account Management department can assist with this.

[Avaton]

Question:
What would cause my subscription info to look like this on the account management page? The key I used was given to me by Turbine 4 days ago when I submitted a support ticket for a new key. It's not an old one from a buddy key thing or anything.

Subscription Plan VIP <---VIP
Trial/Guest Subscription <---Trial? *boggle*
Next Billing Date: December 12, 2009 <---hasn't even happened yet? *boggle*

Any wayto jump-start this or do I just have to wait?

[Victorie]

Contact the Account Management department and they can assist. That trial thing is probably why you don't have points yet. I bet if you check your card statement you haven't been charged either.

[Avaton]

Will do. Unfortunately it may be faster to just wait but I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the help!